Your Neighbor is a Person, Not a Prospect
Be a Servant – Part 1

Scripture Reading: Matthew 20:20-28

Key Verse: Matthew 20:28

…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus’ story in Matthew, chapter twenty is easy for parents to relate to.  A mother comes to Jesus and requests that her two sons might sit at His right hand and one on His left in the coming kingdom.  In other words, she wanted the best for her two boys; that was a mother’s heart speaking and most moms would want the same for their kids.

However, when the other disciples heard about the request, they became indignant.  With disunity among the disciples brewing, Jesus calls them together and reminds them of a very important principle of His kingdom: servant hood.  Whoever wants to be great in God’s kingdom must be a servant; whoever wants to be first must become a slave to others.  Wow! That was not what the mom and others wanted to hear.  It undoubtedly stunned all of the followers that were there!

Jesus did not simply talk the talk, He quickly added to this lesson a note about Himself: “The son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).  Jesus had stepped out of the glories of heaven and put on flesh—the flesh of humanity.  That alone was humbling enough!  However, in His coming to earth, His purpose was not to be a pampered king!  His purpose for coming was to serve people—all people, those that accepted Him and those that rejected Him.

Father, I want to serve people today.  Grant me clarity of how and who you would choose for me to serve.  In Jesus’ name, amen.